Abstract

                                For the successful exploitation of interspecific hybridisa- tion in cotton improvement, the need to understand the barriers to species hybridisation is a vital prerequisite (Sikka 1957). Of the several "Reproductive isolating mechanism" (Stebbins 1958), studies were undertaken on (i) Time and nature of anthesis, (ii) Germination and growth of pollen and (iii) Effect of normal and bud pollination method on seed set, that are likely to encounter free crossing between four diploid species of Gossypium, at the Cotton Breeding Station, Coimbatore, during 1958-60 and the results are reported here.

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